Box stamping machine



July 28, 1931.

J. 5. PHELPS BOX STAMPING MACHINE Filed July 9. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v vE/v Tale, t/dH/V '5 Pris; Pa,

J. s. PHELPS 1,816,493

BOX STAMPING MACHINE Filed July 9. 1928 July 28, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN vglv r02: (/au/v 6. Evans I 2 /al I9 ZITOE E a:

, applying Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN s. PHELPS, or WI-IITTIER', cALIFoRnIA BOX STAMPING MACHINE Application filed July 9, 1928. Serial No. 291,219.

My invention relates to stamping devices, and it is a primary object of my invention to provide a stamping machine for automatically printing on a box, or other container, certain nomenclature relative either to the contents thereof, such as the classification or name of the articles enclosed, or relative to the box itself, such as the serial number, capacity, etc.

My invention finds a particular utility in the citrus fruit packing industry, and it is in this capacity that it will be particularly 'described Without limiting myself thereto. In this industry one brand name, and label therefor, is used for a number of different varieties of fruit, and it is desirableto impress either on the box oixlabel the name of the particular variety of fruit packed in the box. Thus, navel and Valencia oranges are handled by the same packing house and are often packed under the same name of brand.

I have invented a machine for stamping a desired nomenclature or symbol on a box, this machine being attachable to any one of a number of types of already existing machines or devices used in citrus packing houses. 1

Thus, my invention may be applied to a strapping machine for strapping lids, to boxes, or may be attached to a machine for he lids themselves, as well as other machines and devices at present in use. My stamping device may also be hand OPGZRllBfl.

It is an object of my invention to provide a stamping machine for boxes or other members, this machine being attachable to existing machines or devices and operated by the movement of an actuating member on the existing machine or device itself.

Another object of my invention is to pro? vide a stamping mechanism for boxes and other ne'mbers which is normally disposed outside the path of travel of said boxes or members, but being movable into said path of travel to engage the same, and actuating means for moving said stamping means into and from said path of travel of said boxes or members.

A. further object of my invention is to;

provide a'novel re-inking device operable by the movement of the box or other member being stamped.

Further objects and advantages of my in-. ventionwill be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have illustrated my stamping machine as applied to a strapping machine,'

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the strappingmachine incorporating my invention.

Fig. 2 is ardetailed viewtaken in the di ection of the arrow 2 ofFig. 1.

Fig.3 is a top view of the strapping machine incorporating my invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4+4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the remkmg dev1ce of my lnventlon, and also 1llustrates the stamping means of my invention.

. Referring particularly to Fig.- 1 I have illustrated my invention as applied to a strapping machine 10, this machine having a frame 11 in which a series of horizontal rollers 12 are pivotally mounted. These rollers, together with side rollers 13, define a path of travel for a box 14 which has been packed with oranges or other fruit or articles l5, and hold in place by a lidlG applied to the box by a lidding machine, not shown. The box 14 moves along theframe 11 until it contacts a stop member 17 best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, at which time, the box is mediallygpositioned under the mechanism of the strapping machine, this mechanism be ing indicated generally by thenumeral 18;

I This mechanism is not a part of my inven- I tion and thus will notbe describedin detail. Essentially, it comprises a pair of'stationary guides 19 which form a way along Whicha sliding element 20 reciprocates throughthe action of a prime mover, not shown, As the sliding element moves downward a suitable strap is placed across the top of the box 14 and secured to the side Walls thereof. During this strapping operation a head 22, secured to the lower end of the sliding elementrmoves from a position shown in full lines in Fig. l into a position shown by dotted lines 23. This movement is utilized as a source of power for the operation of my stamping machine indicated generally by the numeral 25.

This stamping machine has a leg 26 secured to the frame 11 and extending downward to the floor. Pivoted: in a; bearing. 27 mounted on this leg is a bell crank 28, the shorter arm 29 of which has a bolt 30 passing therethrough. This bolt serves to-pivot a follower 31 which engages theunderside of a member 32 secured to the head '22, this member and head cooperating to form an actuating member 83 for my invention.

';A cam leg 35 extends downward from the frame 11 and-has acam surface 36 against which the follower 31 bears, .beingheld in contact: therewith .by. a spring .37 adjacent the bolt '30. As bestsillustratedin Figs..2

and4 this cam surface 36 is notvertical but extends toward the front of the machine, thus -p1vot1ng the follower 31 relative to the arm 29 as this followeris moved downward, due to contact: with the actuating member 33. This pivoting action slides the follower toward a corner 38 of the member 32 and when the arm 29 is .moved into the-dotted line position indicated by the numeral 40, the followeris moved clear of the corner 38, at which time a tension spring 41 draws the arm 29 into its full line position: a. i r

=The long arm of the bell. crank 28 is indicated by the numeral 42 and ttends up.- ward between compression springs 43 and 44 which surround a shaft 45, thisshaft passing through the upper end of the .arm 42.- Thesprings 48 and 44. are respectively compressed a 'ainsta nut 46 and a .pin -47.

Pivoted on a verticalshaft-50 'mounted in sockets 51 on the upper end. of theleg 26'is an-arm 52 having an operating arm 53 extending i. therefrom.- This operating arm and the end of the shaft areiconnected together by a universal joint inthe-form. of

a ball-and-socket joint-54 so that as the arm 29 is movedinto its dotted'line position40,

thus moving the arm 42 into a dotteidline position 55, the. arm 52 is pivoted onthe shaft and'swings into the path travel of the'box 14.- 1 p V r A stamping means is mounted on: thefree end of the arm 52, this stamping .means comprising a stamp 57 having raised letters 58 thereon. The-shaftbO is positionedadjacent the forward end of the. box 14 so that the stamp 5'? is brought'intoisurface contacflwith the end of the box when the bell crank- 28 is moved into its dottedline position indicatedbythe numerals 40 and 55, thus printing the desired nomenclature or symbol on the end of the box; :Asthe fell lower 31 slips past the corner 38, and the bellcranlr'28 moves into its fulllin'e'position, the arm 52 is pivoted about the shaft spring -41- movesthe stamping means into its retracted position. lVhen this actuating member is in its lowermost position, a chain 60 is drawn taut. and releases the stop 17 so that when the actuating member 38 moves into its full line; position the box 14 may be either manually-0r automatically pushed along itsnormalpath of travel {and onto a pair of rollers 61 pivotally mounted in. the frame 11, after which it moves onto t .0011- veyor plate 62 which moves the box away from the strapping machine 10. I

It will .be readily apparent that the stamp; ing means is normally disposed outside of the path of travel of the boxes and the actuating mechanism for conveying the boxes moves the stamping means into and from said path of travel of the boxes.

I utilize this movement ,of the box for re-inking the, stamp 57 This re-inkingdevice is best illustrated in Fig, 5 and com-- prises a bracketfi secured to the leg 26, this bracket having alhorizontal bar 66 mounted on the upper end thereof. The bar 66 serves the dual purpose of limiting the retracted position of the arm 52, and supporting a pair of arms 68, inthe outer ends of which-is helda shaft 69. Pivoted on this shaft is a re-inking means in the form of a re-inking pad 70 having an actuating arm 71 extending therefrom. I

A spring 72connects a projection 73 on one of the arms 68 and the actuating arm 71 in such a' manner that a toggle action takes place tending to move the re-inking pad 70 eithertightly against the stamp 57,' or retracted therefrom in such a position as to allow the arm 52-to swing thereby. The retracted position of this re-inking pad 70 is determined by an arm 75 of'a stop 5, thus causing the arm 75 to move a pm 82*ofthelactuating arm 71 inan arcuate pathfpivoting the re-inking pad 70 on the axis of the shaft 69. W hen the center line of the spring 72 has justpassed the axis of this shaft this spring will operate tomove actuating means for moving sa1d stamping means into and from said path of travel;

adapted to be moved when said box is the re-inking pad into firm contact with the stamp 57, thus applying more ink to this stamp. As the box 14.- is'moving away from thelever 77, and just before a separation of the cam surface and the side of the box takes place, the spring 79 moves the lever 77 again into the path of travel of thenext box. This causes an arm 83, forming a portion of the member 76, to

engage the pin 82 and move the actuating It should be understood that my inven-- tion is not limited to the particular embodiment shown nor to attachment with the particular strapping machine shown. Any machine which defines a normal path of travel for a box or other member and which has a moving actuating member may be used for mounting my stamping machine 25.

Neither am I limited to the automatic operation illustrated. My stamping machine may be manually operated by ha ing an operator move the bell crank 28. This may conveniently be done by stepping on the follower 31, but any means for moving the stamping means into and out of the path of travel of the box falls within the scope of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a box stamping machine, the combination of: a frame providing a path of travel for said box; a stamping means disposed outside of the path of travel of said box and being movable into said path of travel to engage a face of said box disposed normal to the path of travel of said box;

and re-inking means for said stamping means having an inking member and a part engaged by said box whereby to cause movement of said inking member into inking engagement with said stamping means.

2. In abox stamping machine, the combination of: a frame providing a path of travel for said box; an actuating member thereadjacent; a stamping means normally disposed outside of the path of travel of said box and being actuated by the movement of said actuating member to move into the path of travel of said box and into engagement with the face of said box normal to the'direction of movement of said box along said .ment of said inking member with saidstamping means in response to movement of said movable member.'- 1

3. In a box stamping-machine, the-combination of: a frame providing a path of travel for said box; an actuating member .adapted to be moved when said box is thereadjacent; a stamping means normally disposed outside of the path of travel of said box and being moved by. said actuating member into the path of travel of said box and into engagement with the face of said box normal to the direct-ion of movement of said box along said path of travel;'and means operable to allow a'return of said stamping means prior to said actuating member reaching the end of its movement.

4. In a box stamping machine, the combination of: a frame providing a path of travel for said box and providing a position of rest into which said box is moved; an actuating member adapted to be moved when said box is thereadjacent; a stamping means normally disposed outsideof the path of travel of said box and being actuated by the movement of said actuating member to move into. the path of travel of said box and into engagement with the face of said box normal to the direction of movement of said box along said path of travel; and means for withdrawing said stamping means from engagementwith said box before said box is moved from said position of rest,

5. In a box stamping machine, thecombination of; a frame providing a path of travel for said box; an actuating member adapted to be moved when said. box isthereadjacent; a stamping means actuated by the movement of said actuating member to move into engagement with said box, said stamping means being withdrawn from engage movement of said box to re-ink said stamping means. v

6. In a stamping machine, the combination of: a frameadapted to support a member to be stamped; stamping meansmovable into and from engagement with saidmember; and re-1nk1ng means operable by; the movement of said member relatlve to.

said frame.

' 7. In a stamping machine, the combination of: a frame adapted to support amember to be stamped; stamping means movable into and from engagement with said;

member; and re-inking means pivoted adjacent sald stamping means whenm dlsengaged position," said re-inking means being operable by the movement of said member relative to said frame.

v 8. In a stamping machine, the combinae tionof: a frame adapted to support a member to be stamped; stamping means movable into and from engagement with said member and re-inkmg means pivoted ing' cycle; connecting jacent said when in diseri gaged position; a toggle device holding sa d renkmg means in either engaged ond-isengaged'. position relative to v said stamping means and a a stop I member controlling the disengagedposition ofsaid l e-inking means.

9. A combination as defined in claim '8 in which said stop member controls the toggle action ofsaid rednking means, and in which 10 said stop memberis mtveab am emnt of said member relat ve to said frame. a

10. In a box stamping machine, the comsbination of: a frame providing a path of travel for said box; a stampingmeans disposed outside of the patli -of travel. for said box and movable into said path to engage said box; an actuating means for moving said stamping means into and, from said w ipath; and re-i'nkingmeans for said stamping means operated by the movement of said boxg, v r

11. In abox stamping machine, the com,- bination of: a frame providing a path of travel for said box; a stamping mean's movable into said path of travel to engage said box; means for moving said. stamping means into and from sa d path of travel; and reinking means operated bythe movement of said box to re-ink saidistamping means.

A machineot the character vdescribed, including: a-frame providii'i'gw a path of travel for a. box; a support attached to said frame; a stamp'mem'ber pivoted'to saidsupport sovas to swing from a. position. outs de of the path of travel of said box into said path (if-travel so as to engage a fa color said box disposed normal to said path of moven'n nt; mechanism on said framechaving a working member moving through'a working I stroke; an actuating member for swing ng said stamp member through an operating cycle; and connecting means l forming part or said actuating member adapted toengage said working member of said mechanism whereby to impart movement to said actuating member.

A machine of the character described, including: a frame providingQa path of.

frame; a stamp member pivoted I to said supp-ortso as to swing vfrom apposition outside of the .pathoftravel of said iiito saidpath of travel so as to engage a face of a said box disposed normal gto path of movement; mechanism on sa d framehav ng travel for a box a support attached tosaid said actuating member to original position. it. A machine of the character described,

including :"a trainefproviding apath of travel for a box; a support attached to said frame;

a stamp member pivoted to said support so as to swing from a position outside oft-lie path of travel of said box into said path of travel so ,as to engage a "face of said box disposed normal to said; path of movement; mechanism. on said frame having a working member moving through a worl'cingstroke; a'n actuating member resiliently connected to said stamp member for, swinging said stamp member through an operating cycle; connecting means forming part of said actuating member adapted to engage said working member of said mechanism Whereby to impart movement to said actuating memberrelease means for releasing said connecting means from engagement with said working part at a predetermined position in the movement of said actuating member; and resilient means for returning said actuating member to original position.

15. A machine of the character described, including: a frame providing a path of travel for a box; a support attached to said frame; a stamp member pivoted to said support so as to swing from a position outside of the path of travelof said box intosaid path oftravol so as to engage a itaceof said box disposed normal to ;said patho'f movement;mechanismfon said frame havi g a working member moving through 'a'working' stroke; an actuating member pivoted at an intermediate point, said actuating member having an arm connected to said stamp member so as to swing said stamp member, and having a second arm engaging said workinginember so 'as-to receive movement from said working member; a spring for returning said actuating member'to original position; and cam means for forcing s'aid second arm ire-m engagement with said Working member. v

16. A machine of the character described,

including: a frame providing a path of travel for a box; a support attached to said frame; a stamp member pivoted to said'support so as to swing from'a position outside of the path of travel of said box into said path of travel so as to engage a face of said box disposed normal to said path of movement; mechanism on said frame having a working member moving through a Workingstroke; an actuating member pivoted at an intermed ate point, sa d actuating men ber comprising a bell crank having an arm connected to said stamp member so as to swing said stamp member, and having a second arm engaging-said Working member Oif:

so as to receive movement from said work- A inginember, said second arm being adapted to be flexed in lateral direction; a spring for returning said actuating member to original position; and cam means for forcing said second arm from engagement with said working member.

17. In a box stamping machine, the com bination of: a'frame providing a path of travel for said box; a stamping means disposed outside 01" the path of travel of said box and being movable into said path of travel to engage said box; actuating means for moving said stamping means into and from said path of travel; and automatic reinking means for said stamping means op erating independently of said actuating means.

18. In a stamping machine, the combination of: a frame providing a path of travel for an article to be stamped; a stamp; means for actuating said stamp so as to accomplish stamping engagement thereof with said article; and automatic reinking means for said stamp, said reinking means being separate from and operating independently of said actuating means.

19. In a stamping machine of the character described, the combination of: a structure adapted to support a member to be stamped; a stamping member; means for moving said stamping member into engagement with said member to be stamped; areinking member for applying ink to said stamping member; a part adapted to be engaged and moved by said member to be stamped; and means operatively connecting said part and said re-inking member 'for causing said re-inking member to engage said stamping member. 7

20. In a stamping machine of the character described, the combination of: a structure adapted to support an article to be stamped, said structure providing a path of movement along which said article is moved into stamping position; a stamping member; operating means for moving said stamping member from a retracted position to a position of engagement with said article; a re-inking member adapted to engage said stamping member; a cam movably supported on said structure and having a sloping face adapted to be engaged by said article as it is moved relative to said stamping position; and means operatively connecting said cam member and said re-inking member whereby to produce engagement of said stamping member by said re-inking member in response to movement of said cam member by said article.

21. In a stamping machine of the character described, the combination of: a structure adapted to support an article to be stamped, said structure providing a path of movement along which said article is moved into stamping position; a stamping member; operating means for moving said stamping member. from a retracted position to a position of enga ement with said article; a re-inking mem er adapted to engage said stamping member; a cam member pivoted on said structure to one side of said stamping member and having a sloping face adapted to be engaged by said article as it is moved relative to said stamping position; and means operatively connecting said cam member and said re-inking member whereby to produce .engagement of said stamping member by said re-inking member in response to movement of said cam member by said article.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, Californimthis 2nd day of July, 1928.

JOHN S. PHELPS. 

